Apparatus for filling boxes, trays or the like



Sept. 13, 1966 D. w. MOLINS APPARATUS FOR FILLING BOXES, TRAYS OR THELIKE Filed Dec. 26, 1963 /N VE N 702 AM w. Min m gig flaw Mai /4TTOIQNEX United States Patent Desmond Walter Molins, London, England,assignor to The Molins Organisation, Limited, a British company FiledDec. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,330 Claims priority, application GreatBritain, Jan. 2, 1963,

3 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-236) This invention relates to apparatus for fillingboxes, trays or the like with relatively small articles. A convenientand typical example is the filling of boxes or trays with cigarettes ormultiple filter plugs for cigarettes (the latter being of similardimension to cigarettes in all [respects here relevant).

It is of course simple to arrange a box or tray to be filled below achute or other guide means and allow articles such as cigarettes todescend into the box or tray until the latter is full. Moreover, it canbe, and commonly is, arranged that boxes or trays are caused to passunder the chute or guide means in continuous succession at such speedthat each box or tray fills adequately as it passes, this arrangementproducing a distribution of the articles along the length of the box ortray which might be expected to be adaquately uniform.

However, in practice such simple filling apparatus is inefficient as thearticles on arrival in the box or tray tend to bunch in ways which leavesubstantial random gaps, hence the load in the box or tray may be foundto be unevenly spread and the total number of articles packed in any onebox or tray is materially less than an be achieved with uniform closepacking.

Various forms of apparatus have been devised for filling boxes or traysmore efficiently; as one example reference may be made to thespecification of British Pat ent No. 549,876. In the said specification,there is described an apparatus in which an inclined guide extends intothe box or tray during filling to improve the distribution of articlestherein; a part at least of said guide being movable upwardly to clearobstacles at the ends of or between successive boxes or trays.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus for filling boxes, trays or the like with relatively smallarticles, with which more uniform packing may be obtained than withprior arrangements.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for fillingboxes, trays or the like with relatively small articles, comprisingmeans for feeding articles to a position above a box, tray or the liketo be filled and permitting said articles to fall therein, a guidearranged in operation to extend into said box, tray or the likesubs'tantially the whole depth thereof, and means for producing relativemotion betwen said box, tray or the like and said guide so that anarticle engaging face of said guide and an end wall of the box, tray orthe like together define an article-receiving space whose lengthincreases from a minimum to a maximum during the filling operation, inwhich said guide includes an endless belt, chain or the like providingthe article-engaging face of the guide, said belt, chain or the likebeing arranged to be driven during the filling operation.

While the said endless belt, chain or the like may be driven in eitherdirection with beneficial results, due to the disturbance of thearticles produced by the moving belt, chain or the like which opposesbunching, we prefer with articles such as cigarettes to drive said belt,chain or the like so that the part of it which engages the articles ismoving downwards i.e. into the box, tray or the like.

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The relative motion between the box, tray or the like and the guide maybe produced by movement of the guide but we prefer to produce it bymovement of the box, tray or the like as it is most convenient toprovide a conveyor e.g., a movable belt arranged to propel a successionof boxes, trays or the like past a filling position at which the guideis located. When as is common the boxes, trays or the like have solidends the guide is conveniently arranged to be raised as the trailing endof each box, tray or the like approaches it and to be lowered as soon asthe leading end of the next box, tray or the like has passed under it.With boxes, trays or the like which pass in end-to-end abuttedrelationship and have no external protuberances e.g. handles, it ispossible to feed articles continuously but when as is more usual thepresence of handles or the like at the ends of each box, tray or thelike produces unavoidable gaps then means may be provided to interruptthe flow of articles as each gap passes the filling position.

In order that the invention may be well understood, a preferredembodiment thereof will now be described, referring to the accompanyingdrawing which is an elevation of a machine embodying the invention anddesigned to fill boxes or trays with multiple filter plugs forcigarettes (which are cylindrical objects of dimensions generallysimilar to those of a cigarette).

The machine shown forms part of an assembly or complex of machinescomprising a pair of filter plug making machines, which are not shownbut would be placed to the left and right of the assembly illustrated soas to deliver the plugs they make towards and into a pair of feedingsystems placed on either side of the filling machine embodying theinvention. The said feeding systems, one of which is shown in full andthe other shown in part only, serve to carry the plugs from the plugmaking machines to the filling machine and such systems are the subjectof a separate application filed concurrently herewith.

The drawing shows one of the feeding systems, gener ally indicated at F,and the box or tray loader generally indicated at L.

Starting at the right of the figure, filter plugs from one of the filterplug making machines (not shown) are delivered by a fluted roller 1 atthe one end of a conveyor belt 2 carried on support rollers 3 and havinga tensioning roller 4. Around part of the circumference of the flutedroller 1 is a guide plate 5 which is normally in the position shown infull lines but is movable to an alternative position shown inchain-dotted lines. In either position part of the plate 5 serves toprevent plugs dropping out of the flutes of the roller 1 while saidflutes are in downwardly-facing positions. With the plate 5 in itsnormal (full-line) position, the plate 5 terminates just past thelowermost point of roller 1, and the plugs carried by roller 1 aretherefore permitted to drop on to the belt 2 and are carried on saidbelt to the left, and ultimately discharged to the loader L as the belt2 passes over its left-hand support roller 3.

Closely adjacent to the fluted roller 1, and to its left, is a supportroller 6 carrying a fluted endless conveyor belt 7 which extendsupwardly and to the left to a second support roller 8, the belt 7 beingdriven in an anticlock wise direction at the same linear speed as thebelt 2 which in turn travels anticlockwise at the same linear speed asthe periphery of the fluted roller 1. The belt 7 is enclosed in a casing9 which surrounds the belt 7 so closely that plugs resting in the flutesof the belt 7 are retained therein and must therefore travel with thebelt 7. The lower part of the left-hand wall of the casing 9 is flaredoutwardly to increase the rigidity of said casing but a guide plate 10provided within the flared portion of said casing is arranged in closerelation to the adjoining (descending) run of the belt 7 so that theplugs in the flute of this part of belt 7 are maintained therein.

At the bottom of the descending run of the belt 7, stationary plates 11are mounted, one at each edge of said belt; the width of the belt 7(measured at right-angles to the plane of the drawing) is somewhat lessthan the length of the plugs to be carried thereby and the plugstherefore project at each edge of the belt and their projecting portionsare engaged by the deflector plates 11 as the plugs reach the bottom ofthe descending run of the belt 7 and are compelled toleave the flutes ofbelt 7 and fall on to belt 2.

When the plate 5 is moved to its alternative position, it will be seenthat it terminates just clear of the belt 7, as the latter passes roundthe roller 6 to commence its ascending run. Furthermore, the right handwall of casing 9 terminates, at its lower end, just clear of the flutedroller 1.

In operation, with the guide plate 5 in its normal (fullline) position,plugs arriving at the top of fluted roller 1 are received in the flutesof said roller and travel with it within the guide plate 5 until thelower end of the latter is reached; here the plugs drop on to belt 2 andare carried to the left until they are discharged to the loader L, thispath being the normal or main path provided by the system. However, theplugs can be prevented from traversing that part of this main pathextending from the lower end of guide plate 5 (in its normal position)to the far (left) edge of deflector plates 11, simply by moving theguide plate 5 to its alternative (chaindotted) position. When this isdone, the plugs travel along a longer subsidiary path to reach the far(left) edge of deflector plates 11, as they are restrained by plate 5from leaving the fluted roller 1 until they reach a position where theyare embraced by a flute of the fluted roller and a flute of the belt 7simultaneously. While so embraced, each plug is lifted a short distanceand then, as the flutes holding it separate, encounters the lower edgeof the right-hand wall of easing 9 and is constrained to remain in theflute of belt 7 this situation lasts while each plug travels the wholelength of the ascending run of the belt 7, with the belt 7 over roller 8and then down the descending run of belt 7, although in the lower partof the descending run it will be appreciated that the plate 10 serves,in place of the casing 9, to keep the plugs in the flutes of the belt.

If the plate 5 is kept in its alternative position until after the firstplug diverted along the subsidiary path, i.e. to belt 7, reaches thebelt 2, then there will be a maximum pause in the delivery of plugs tothe loader L which lasts for a time equal to the time taken by a plug totraverse the subsidiary path (from plate 5 to plates 11) minus the timetaken to travel directly (on belt 2) between the same points. Should theplate 5 be returned to its normal position before the first divertedplug reaches the belt 2, then the pause will be equal to the time theplate 5 is allowed to remain in its alternative position. The number ofplugs which would normally have been delivered during the pause will betemporarily stored on the belt 7.

Whenever the plate 5 is restored to its normal position, for a periodequal in duration to the pause created in the discharge to loader Lthere will be a doubled loading of belt 2, as plugs will still bedischarging from the belt 7 as well as plugs arriving on belt 2 directfrom the fluted roller 1. As both the roller 1 and "belt 2 are fluted,but the belt 2 is plain-surfaced, the latter should accommodate thetemporarily enhanced flow of plugs without difficulty but if it isdesired to ensure there is no piling of plugs on the belt 2, said beltmay be driven at a greater linear speed than belt 7 and roller 1.

While the position of the plate 5 may be controlled by any desiredmeans, it is noted that where the system is to to the loader L which areand travel with said belt;

be used to provide interruptions in the supply of plugs so timed thateach separate batch of plugs delivered contains a predetermined numberof plugs, a sensing device such as a photo-electric cell and lamp may befitted at a convenient point around the fluted roller 1 and connected toa counter which is arranged to cause operation of the plate 5 whenever aselected number of plugs has passed the sensing device.

Turning now to the loader L, this has a support 20 along which boxes 21can slide. An endless horizontallyextending chain 22 provided withspaced projecting pushers 23 is carried on sprockets 24 alongside thesupport 20, the spacing of successive p-ushers 23 along the chain beingslightly greater than the length of a box 21 and the whole length ofchain 22 is a whole-number multiple of said spacing. The chain 22 isdriven in a clockwise direction by one or both of the sprockets 24, itsupper run being above and its lower run below the support 20. It isreadily seen that whenever a box is loaded on to the left-hand end ofthe support 20 so that its rear, i.e. left-hand, end is past the pointat which the upper run of the chain 22 commences the next pusher 23 toappear on the upper run of the chain will engage the said rear end ofthe box and push it to the right for the whole length of said upper run;thereafter the box stops as the pusher disengages from it as the pusheris carried round the right-hand sprocket 24 and remains stationary untila further box is pushed along by one of the pushers 23, at which timethe leading or front end Wall of the second box engages the rear endwall of the first box and pushes the latter further along the support20; a third box will engage the second box later and push both thesecond and first boxes and so on until each box in turn reaches theright-hand end of support 20 (not shown) and is removed by anyconvenient means, irrelevant in this description.

Substantially at the centre of the drawing, there is an opening 25between the belt 2, previously mentioned, and a similar belt 2a (ofwhich part only is shown) which occupies the place of the belt 2 thesecond feeding system which is identical with the system F alreadydescribed, save that it feeds from left to right. A slida-ble horizontalclosure plate 26 normally occupies a position (shown in full lines)under the left-hand end of the belt 2, but may slide horizontally to theposition shown in chain-dotted lines so as to close the gap 25.

A distributor member in the form of an endless belt 27 carried onrollers 23 has a normal position shown in full lines and an alternativeposition shown in chaindotted lines. The belt 27 always has its twostraight runs between the rollers 28 lying in parallel planes slightlyinclined (e.g. at 5) to the vertical (its upper end being further to theleft than its lower end) and its width extending at right-angles to thedirection of travel of the boxes 21 and the belts 2, 2a. In the normalposition of the belt 27, its lowermost part, around the lower roller'28, barely clears the bottom of a box 21 below the gap 25, while itsuppermost part, around the upper roller 28, is closely adjacent to andat the same level as the discharge (right-hand) end of the belt 2a, afixed bridgepiece 29 of approximately triangular-section bar serving tofill the gap between the adjoining curved portions of the belts 27, 2aso that plugs fed to the right may readily pass over said bridge-piece29 and over the top of the belt 27 to drop through the gap 25 on or nearthe surface of the belt 27.

When in its alternative position, the lowermost portion of the belt 27is slightly above the level of the upper edges of boxes 21 but below thelevel of the belt 2a and bridge-piece 29. Means (not shown) are providedto drive the belt 27 in a clockwise direction.

Considering the operation of the loader, the drawing shows the parts inthe positions they occupy when a box is nearly half filled. Plugs arebeing fed along belt 2 and falling through the gap 25 into the box,plugs are also feeding along belt 2a, over bridge-piece 29 and the topbelt 27, and falling along or near belt 27 through gap into the box. Thebelt 27 is travelling-clockwise, therefore as it is the part of the boxto the right of the belt 27 which receives the falling plugs, theright-hand run of the belt 27 tends to pack the fallen plugs moreclosely in the box as in that run the belt 27 is descending and movementof the belt 27 continually pushes the plugs downwards, thus tending toprevent bunching which would otherewise occur, giving rise to unevenpacking; the belt 27 does not however propel the plugs positively, butonly by frictional engagement and therefore damage to the plugs, e.g.squashing, is avoided.

As the plugs are falling and the belt 27 packing them compactly, the box21 being filled is moving to the right at a suitable speed to give adesired level of plugs in the box. Shortly before the rear end of box 21becomes disengaged from the pusher 23 which is advancing it, the upperedge of the rear end of the box is about to engage the left (ascending)run of belt 27. Drive means (not shown) therefore commences to raise thebelt 27 to its alternative position, the speed of raising being suchthat a minimum clearance is maintained between the upper edge of therear wall of the box and the ascending run of belt 27. As belt 27 israised, it continues to travel clockwise on its support rollers 28, andplugs continue to fall from belt 2, but the belt 27 as it rises stopsfeed of any plugs which may still be travelling on belt 2a. However, nogreat number of plugs (or none at all, if timing is absolutely correct)collects at the end of belt 2a, and on the bridge-piece 29, because atthe time the belt 27 starts to rise, or a little earlier, the guideplate 5 of the left-hand feeding system (not shown) has been moved toits alternative position, giving rise to a pause in the delivery ofplugs along belt 2a in the manner previously explained. The feed ofplugs from belt 2 continues however until the belt 27 has reached itsalternative position, or even a little longer, to ensure completefilling of the box; at a suitable time the guide plate 5 of theright-hand feeding system is moved to its alternative position, givingrise to a pause in delivery of plugs by the belt 2 as explained, and theclosure plate 26 is also moved to its alternative position when the belt27 ceases to rise, or a little later.

Correct relative timing of the various movements may be obtained in avariety of ways; it has already been explained that a sensing device andcounter may be included in the feeding system to control movement of theplate 5, and the other movable parts, i.e. belt 27, plate 26, and belt22, may also be connected to this counter; with two feeding systems asdescribed, it will be understood that if separate counters are used tocontrol the two plates 5 then the two counters will need to beinterconnected if they are to control the other parts specified.However, direct control of the said other parts is not essential, but anindirect control may be obtained by providing further sensing devices,such as photo-electric cells, at the discharge ends of belts 2, 2a. Suchfurther sensing device may be arranged to detect the pauses in supply ofplugs which are created by operation of plate 5 and to operate the saidparts, 22, 26, 27 at suitable times in relation to such pauses. Withsuch an arrangement, it is of course necessary to provide some measureof synchronisation between the two feeding systems and the machinessupplying them .to ensure that the pauses in discharge from belts 2, 2aoverlap sufliciently for the proper operation of the parts 22, 26, 27 tobring a fresh box below the gap 25.

Whatever control arrangements are made, with a twin installation such asthat described it is of advantage to provide for combined operation attimes when one or other of the machines supplying plugs is inoperative,thus where two counters are used it is desirable that they should besettable to allow delivery of twice the normal number of plugs in eachbatch.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling open-topped containers such as trays withrelatively small articles, comprising article feeding means for feedingarticles to a position over a container to be filled and permitting saidarticles to fall therein, a guide member arranged in operation to extendinto said container substantially the whole depth thereof, an endlessflexible b and forming part of said guide, means for producing relativemotion between said container and said guide, an article-engaging faceof said guide being provided by said band and cooperating with an endwall of said container to provide an article-receiving space whoselength increases from a mini-mum to a maximum during the fillingtopenation by virtue of said relative motion, and means to drive saidband during the filling operation.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the drive means for theband is so arranged that part of said band which engages the articles ismoving downwards.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for producingrelative motion comprises a conveyor arranged to propel a succession ofcontainers past a rfilling position, the guide being located at saidfilling position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said guide is arranged tobe raised and lowered to permit the passage of ends of containersthereunder.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means to interrupt theflow of articles as gaps between successive containers pass below theposition at which the articles are permitted to fall.

'6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said means to interruptthe flows of articles comprises a horizonally-slidable plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK E. BAILEY,Primary Examiner.

P. H. POHL, Assistant Examiner.

6/ 19 64- Boinnard 53--2?:6

1. APPARATUS FOR FILLING OPEN-TOPPED CONTAINERS SUCH AS TRAYS WITHRELATIVELY SMALL ARTICLES, COMPRISING ARTICLE FEEDING MEANS FOR FEEDINGARTICLES TO A POSITION OVER A CONTAINER TO BE FILLED AND PERMITTING SAIDARTICLES TO FALL THEREIN, A GUIDE MEMBER ARRANGED IN OPERATION TO EXTENDINTO SAID CONTAINER SUBSTANTIALLY THE WHOLE DEPTH THEREOF, AN ENDLESSFLEXIBLE BAND FORMING PART OF SAID GUIDE, MEANS FOR PRODUCING RELATIVEMOTION BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND SAID GUIDE, AN ARTICLE-ENGAGING FACEOF SAID GUIDE BEING PROVIDED BY SAID BAND AND COOPERATING WITH AN ENDWALL OF SAID CONTAINER TO PROVIDE AN ARTICLE-RECEIVING SPACE WHOSELENGTH INCREASES FROM A MINIMUM TO A MAXIMUM DURING THE FILLINGOPERATION BY VIRTUE TO SAID RELATIVE MOTION, AND MEANS TO DRIVE SAIDBAND DURING THE FILLING OPERATION.